About Silent Wing Strategies
Silent Wing Strategies was founded on a simple observation: strong science and deep expertise do not automatically translate into effective decisions, trusted partnerships, or lasting impact.
As organizations grow, collaborate across sectors, and operate under increasing scrutiny, the systems that support good decisions become just as important as the expertise itself.
Silent Wing Strategies helps leaders strengthen those systems so that good science, sound strategy, and organizational purpose can achieve their full potential.
Meet Sarah
Silent Wing Strategies was founded by Sarah Burgess-Herbert, PhD, an advisor to organizations where science, strategy, and organizational complexity intersect.
Over the course of her career, Sarah has helped executive leaders navigate research strategy, scientific integrity, organizational change, and complex cross-sector partnerships — guiding high-stakes decisions where scientific credibility, public trust, and long-term impact are at stake.
Her experience spans conservation science, federal research policy, climate strategy, and international development, including senior strategy and advisory work with NASA and USAID. As USAID’s representative to the White House Scientific Integrity Task Force from 2021 to 2023, she helped shape federal scientific integrity policy and practice. She also led research strategy and governance policy efforts for USAID’s $500M+ R&D enterprise and advised senior leadership on issues ranging from scientific integrity and cross-sector partnerships to organizational change and strategic decision-making.
Today, Sarah works directly with climate and nature technology companies and with science-based foundations, NGOs, and multi-stakeholder initiatives to build the strategic clarity and organizational systems needed to navigate growth, change, and increasing complexity. She provides the trusted counsel leaders need when decisions carry significant credibility, organizational, or public impact.
Why I Founded Silent Wing Strategies
Throughout my career — from conservation genetics and climate science to federal research strategy — I became increasingly interested in what helps strong science achieve meaningful impact. Again and again, I found that scientific expertise alone was rarely enough. Lasting progress depended on the partnerships, governance, decision-making, and leadership systems that connect knowledge to action.
Silent Wing Strategies was created to help leaders strengthen the strategic clarity, organizational systems, and scientific credibility needed to navigate those moments with confidence.
As organizations grow, partnerships multiply, expectations increase, and decisions become more consequential. Informal ways of working that once served the organization well begin to strain under increasing complexity.
My Philosophy
I believe that…
Good decisions begin with good evidence.
Scientific excellence creates opportunity, but evidence alone does not create impact. Organizations need thoughtful leadership, clear decision-making, and strong systems to translate knowledge into action.
Credibility is built long before it is tested.
Organizations earn trust through the systems they establish, the decisions they make, and the consistency with which they uphold their values — not only during moments of success, but especially during periods of scrutiny or change.
The best strategy creates confidence.
When organizations have clarity about where they are going, confidence in how decisions are made, and trusted guidance through uncertainty, they are better equipped to adapt, collaborate, and lead.
These principles guide how I partner with organizations navigating growth, change, and increasing complexity.
Let’s Begin a Conversation
The best advisory relationships begin with a conversation. If you’re facing a complex decision, organizational change, or a challenge where strategy, governance, and credibility intersect, I’d welcome the opportunity to learn more.